This question is the equivalent of asking – How much does food cost at the market? – There are skittles and there is steak – all have very different prices. It’s the same with radio advertising. There are many factors that play into an effective radio campaign.

Some of these key factors are location, length of campaign, time of day it will be airing, amount of times it will be on the air, and the station it is going to be on. The price of a single bottle of water in an upscale restaurant will be very different than the cost of a single bottle bought in bulk at a big box store. Both are water… however both are found in very different settings. Sorry, I wish it was a simple question that I could throw figures out to you on. But every campaign is different!

The vast amount of options is a positive if you are a business person! With so many options, we can explore several options that may fit the budget you have in your mind. Some will reach more people, some will reach less people. The important thing to remember - almost all will reach people, and people are needed to keep you in business. Each plan will have stats attached as to what can be expected for exposure with your target customer.

“That’s great and all… but what about prices?” - Again… “What does food cost at the market”? There are effective plans in some areas for 1k or less and there are effective plans for 50k. It all depends on the size and scope of what you want to do and where.I can give you a ball park for your specific situation and market, which varies from market to market based on all these factors. If you would like to explore what these options in your area are, feel free to drop me an email. I would be happy to help point you in the right direction!

The answer to this question is quite simple – As effective as the person who wrote it. Contrary to popular belief (and contrary to what we hear all too often) an effective radio commercial should not just be a mundane cliché’ ridden script (i.e. conveniently located, don’t miss this, best selection ever, you won’t believe it!, etc) read by a deep voiced, over enunciating buffoon. Although, many times this is what we hear – so we think “that must be how it is done”.

It makes me sick to think of all the money hard working small and medium sized business people sink into ineffective radio air time, when if they did a simple Google search for “radio commercials”, they could have very easily found a production firm that could help them create a very effective radio commercial for the cost of a dinner out with friends. You wouldn’t work all year to get in shape, get the perfect tan only to walk up to the diving board and attempt to dive into a pool void of water. So why would you buy air-time only to fill it with a poorly written and produced radio commercial. If you are going to do it – do it right the first time!

So… getting back to the main point – Just how effective are radio commercials? They are very effective! When written by someone who takes the time to fully understand your business, your goals, who you want to, reach, and what you are trying to accomplish. Not just write a script based on the broad strokes of your entire website or yellow page add.

Getting down to the nitty-gritty of how your potential customers think, answering their questions before they even asked them, and creating that itch to find out more about your business are all keys to an effective radio commercial.

This is a question that I get asked on a daily basis, so I thought I would sum it up in an article for all those out there searching for an answer. It’s quite simple really – Radio Advertising is as effective as you want it to be.

What do I mean by this? There are several factors that come into play when measuring the effect of a radio advertising campaign. Just as we learned in first grade – there is always a “Cause” that comes before the “effect”. So if you want a successful radio advertising campaign – let’s take a look at what can “cause” this to happen.

First, you need an effective message: A message that is put together by people who know how to write an effective radio commercial. Often time’s businesses will hire a professional radio commercial production firm to help them with this. While radio stations often offer “Free production” and “Free script writing” – the quality and effectiveness of these “free” efforts pale in comparison to what a small investment in a professional radio commercial production company can do for you.Bottom line, if you are going to do it – do it right. “Free” hardly ever means “Quality” or “effective”. If you have more questions about what an effective commercial consists of, drop me an email. It is listed below.

Second, you need an effective on-air schedule.Don’t just buy air time for the sake of buying air time. You will need frequency and consistency in your message if it is going to be effective. This often times requires being on the air for at least 3-4 weeks with a schedule that reaches the same people several times over in order for your target customers to take action. If you have more questions about what an effective on air schedule consists of, drop me an email. It is listed below.

Third – This ties into number two. Your commercial must be airing on stations that effectively reach your target audience. Quite simply – it’s demographics. No one in their right mind would to try and sell feminine products to a station that targets hard rocking males. Make sure your message is on target! The “most listened to” station in the market – may not be the “most listened to” by your target customer.